Any tips on using pouring fondant icing for a first time user?

[IlanaK]

I am making a huge batch of christmas cupcakes tomorow for friends. I have bought loads of lovely decorations for on top and I am going to use fondatn icing (the kind you just add water to and pour). I have never done anything like this before - I never bother icing cakes. So, any tips gratefully accepted.

Do I really need a glaze on them before adding the icing? Should I add the decorations immediately (I have things like christmas tree sprinkles, gold sparkle dust, icing sugar stars, etc). The kids want to help, but I don't want a mess - is it easier to apply the decorations using tweezers than fingers?

I know these are all really silly questions, btu I really have no clue!

Don't bake the cakes too full in the cases, so that you have a lip of paper case to hold the icing in place.

You don't have to glaze them first but it does make the icing spread more easily. Sometimes I put on a sugar syrup glaze when the cakes are warm rather than apricot glaze.

If you are doing lots you need to ice and decorate in batches so the icing isn't to set before adding sprinkles.

For biggish things you don't need tweezers (unless you are anal about being perfectly central!) might be better for silver ball things - depends on how big your fingers are.

I sometimes decorate and then pretend it was the children if they look a bit cack handed!

Excellent - thanks for the tips! Mostly, I have things to shake over the top, but I do have a few central decorations so I might use tweezers for those.

Roughly how many cupcakes would you decorate at a time so they don't set too quickly?